The National tribune., 1887-03-10


sidered without reference TO the object. The
unanimity with which all the Posts in the
country came into line at the word from the
COmmander-in-Chief and from the Chair
man OF the National Pension Committee on
Pensions, shows that we have at last attained
the object for which the best and most
thoughtful comrades OF the Order have zeal
ously striven ever since its foundation. That
is, unanimity ofeiIort in any desired direction.
Until within recent years the Orders efforts
have been greatly embarrassed by divisions
and distractions. One portion Of the COM
rades wanted one thing, another quite
another, and SO on. 1--we could have had
such unity 10 years ago as was displayed on
the Dependent Pension Bill, the pension
legislation Of the country would be now in
vastly better shape than i is, and thousands
of our comrades who have gone TO their
graves without the relief TO which they were
Justly entitled would have received il, and
had their last days cOmforted and prolonged
thereby.
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE has preached
unity necessarily al its life. The leading
comrades have done the same. The National
Eucampments have done everything posi-
BILE TO enforce il, and now ii is clear that the
comrades themselyes-one and all-recog-
nize its value, and viii pay much greater
attention TO it in the future than ever be-
fore.
The only way in which the cause Of the
soldiers can be advanced is by taking up
one thing at a time, and all uniting in insist
ing that the country give that one thing.
In this way we can in time get everything
to which we are entitled, whereas we shall
get nothing unless we follow this course.
No one knows better than THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE that the Dependent Pension Bill
was not all that the soldiers should have.
No one knew better than we did the def
ciencies and inadequacies of the bill. No
well-informed cOmrade pretended TO be sat
isfled with it, But while it did not give
enough ii gave a great deal, it gave what
was most urgently wanted, it recognized q
principle, il gave all that we could possibly
hope TO get from Congress at the time, and
it did no one any injustice. Whatever il
lacked could be supplied by future legisla'
ton, and in the meanwhile the good il
would do would be going on to those who
were its benefciaries.
No one who supported the bill abated ;
particle of his desire TO have much NOR
liberal legislation than il provided. No one
for example, was particle less anxious TO
the passage of a law repeating the Limitation
Of the arrears Of pensions, for equalizini
bounties, and for other acts Of justice. Bu
il was clear then, and ii is still clearer now
that no bill embracing the proper care Q
dependent soldiers, the repeal of the arrear
Limitation, and the equalization Of bountie'
would have the slightest chance Of passin
Congress. Amy one who says otherwis
simply has not the truth in him. TIL
question, then, was what 10 ask for. n
one hesitated in saying that provision for tn
care of the helpless and needy must take pre-
) cedence of everything else.
Acting upon suggestion Of this kin
from the National Pension Committee, til
House Committee on Invalid Pensions frame
the Dependent Pension Bill and it passe
, the House. IL was far from being all thu
the GAR. Pension Committee desired, br
it was a move in the right direction. The
accepted il, and asked the Senate TO pa
it without amendment, for they feared
risk any return 10 the House. The Sena
did so, and the bill went to the Presiden
who vetoed it, Then the magnificent soil,
. arity of the GAR showed itself The o
der rose as one man and demanded the pa
sage of the bill over the veto. The conrad
g went into line and touched elbows, just
b they did in the brave days of old. Th'
If confronted the storm Of villifcation and sla
n der just as resolutely as they used TO 4
o. rebel hosts. Every Senator, every Repr
Ie sentative and every newspaper in the Nor
lie and West was made 10 understand til
N il was the earnest wish of the G
soldiers, without exception, that the b
% be passed So Enthusiastically was Il
IN manifestation that very few Congressman
te theStates north Of Mason & Dixon's line felt
le liberty 10 disregard it, and these were maiI
" those whose political lives ended with ,
I'd last Congress, or who represented Distri
m like those in the lower part Of New Yo
city, where there are comparatively (
comrades Taking everything into cons
Grafton the vote in favor Of passing the !
;. over the veto was astonishingly large, ant
shows what can be accomplished when
- all "rally on the center"
We must prepare TO repeat these tact
next Winter even more demonstratiyt
by that time every honorably -dischar,
- veteran should be in the ranks Of the G. A
a 4,